Movable top panel for vehicles



Feb. 28, 1933. J. L.. -DUB'os MOVABLE TOP PANEL FOR VEHICLES 8Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jupe 19, 1928 irl: :E7/AWWA. I.

/NVE/vTan '5; 41E-an Louis .272505 Feb. 2s, 1933. l DUBOS E 1,899,857

- MOVABLE TOP PANEL FDR VEHICLES Filed June '19, 1928 f8 sheets-sheet 2l H #FMT w T' A'FTORNEYS` Feb. 2s, 1933. J, DUBOS 1,899,857

MOVABLE TOP PANEL FOR VEHICLES Filed June 19, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 .926 422 6 v4/%A 233m4 4 l, J/ 2 N17 5 fla@ l l@ u o @I [NYE/V TOR Jdn5011191211513 l' Feb. 2s, i933. J, DUBOS 1,899,857

MOVABLE TOP PANELFOR VEHICLES Filed June 19, 1928 8 Sheets-ShamI 4 Feb.28, 1933. 1 L, DUBQS 1,899,857

HOVAB-LE TOP PANEL FOR VEHICLES l l Filed June l, 192e e sheets-sheet 5Feb. 28, 1933. y J L DUBQS 1,899,857

y MOVABLE'TOP PANEL FR VEHICLES Filed June 19, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 6Fig-.23

45' /lvvEN Tak :Dan Louisuo's a ymfut Feb. 2s, 1933.

J. lL. DuBos v IOYABLE TOP PANEL FOR VEHICLES' Filed June 19, 192s 8sheets-sheet /NvE/urolr Jan Lol/ula Bah BY I Feb. 1933. I J. DUBQS1,899,857

MOVABLE TOP PANEL F-.OR VEHICLES Filed June 19, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 8NVENTUR d'un Louis Daos Y Patented Feb. 28, i933 .p

UNITED STATES J'FAIiI'y LOUIS DUBOS, 0F NEUILLY SUR SEINE, .FRANCEmovABLn Tor PANELFOB. VEHICLES Application led June 19, 1928, Serial No.286,550, and in Frnceoctober 5, 1927.

The present invention relates to improvements in lvehicle bodiesprovided with movable top panels.

It relates more articularly to the arrangement of the mova le top itselfand its means of support, the configuration of the vehicle top itself,the means assuring iluidtight conditions for the said top, the means forstowing the movable top portion at the rear of w the vehicle, thearrangement oi observation holes whereby the driver can observe the roadin the rear of the vehicle when the top part is opened, a particulararrangement oi wind shield assuring the complete protection of theoccupants of .the rear seats when the vehicle top is open, as well as adevice for holding the said vehicle top in the intermediate position.

rlhe appended drawings show by way ci "f example various constructionaliorins oi"- the improvements according to the invention.

v Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a longitudinal section and a plan viewof the vehicle body and its removable top.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side elevation and an end view of a*forged bracket for guiding purposes which is disposed at either end ofthe arched members supporting the vehicle body.

Figs. 5-6 and 7 8 are views analogous to Figures 3 and 4, ofmodiiications of the said Figures 3. and Ll.

Figs. 9 and l0 are cross sections showing two constructions of thedevice assuring the guiding and' the fluid tightness of the vehicle top.

Figs. 11 and 12 are modifications of Figs. 9 and 1G.

Figs. 13 and 14 show a device for fluid tight construction of thevehicle top, in two diiierent positions.

Fig. 15 is a detail of the front cross-piece framing the opening of thevehicle.

Figs. 16 and 17 are longitudinal sections 450i the fluid tightarrangement of the said front cross-piece.

Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are modified forms 'of the joint of the vehicletop.

Fig. 22is a longitudinal section of the rear part of the vehicle top,showing means assuring the fluid tightness of the vehicle body.

Figs. 23, 24, 25 and 26 are partial cross v sections of the outer frameof the vehicle top, respectively at the points shown at A-B--C-D ofFigure 1.'

Figs. 27 28 and 29are respectively a front View, a side elevation and abottom view of the mechanism for actuating the vehicle top.

Fig. 8O is a perspective view of the vehicle top in the o en positionshowing the wind ,60. shield used ihr the rear seats.

Figs. 31 and 32 show details of the mechanism for operating the saidwind' shield.

Figs. 33 and 34 are respectively an elevational and a plan view of thedevice for holding the vehicle top.

Fig. 35 is a diagrammatic view of a modilied device :tor holding thevehicle top in the closed position.

Fig. 36 is a detail view of the arrangement, 70 inthe movable top, cithe pane used to cover the rear movable observation aperture.

The vehicle top comprises the lateral frames 1 oil wood or metal whichare mounted upon the vehicle body and in which are termed the grooves 2for the sliding of the movable top anel. These two frames extendoutwardly or the vehicle body at the front of the vehicle, as shown at 3in Fig. 23, so as to reduce the thickness of the lateral frames 8@ andto increase the visibility. The said frames comprise the troughs orchannels 4 (Figs. 2li-25) for the discharge of water, and said channelsmay be faced with copper, zinc, imitation leather or lilre waterproof g5substance..

The movable part of the roof comprises the curved members or arches '5which may be employed in any suitable number and may consist of wood orlike material, these having the transverse position and being connectedtogether'by longitudinal bands 6 of a suitable iiexible or elasticsubstance, such as spring steel strips which are properly distributed.At each end of the respective arch v 5 is a forked member 7, forinstance of metal, supporting a stud 8 of any suitablesubstance, andpreferably of leather, whereby the device will readily slide withoutnoise. The said studs may also be constructed as. shown in a facing 9 asshown in Fi 5, or may receive a leather band 10 (Fig. 6 or a pluralityof 'such bands (Fig. 8). The portions 8 and 10 consist preferably ofgreased leather which provides for theproper sliding conditions e andfor a long duration ofthe device; the

discs forming studs in the case of Fig. 3 are preferably cementedtogether in such manner as toform a device which is rotatable on n itssupporting axis. The said studs or bands may consist of any suitablesubstance ysuch as hard or soft rubber, bre,wood, steel, or the like.

',Each of the curved members 5 may be recessed at various points on itslength, as shown in Fig. 10, and it is provided at each end withl asupport 11 which preferably consists of a plate of a metal,-optionallyelastic, and havinga straight or curved shape, which 'carries in theinterior of the recess 4 the iexible canvas or like covering 12 of thevehicle top, said covering being preferably riveted near the end of eachplate 11, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The saidmovable top panel is made fluid tight at the front part of thevehicle body, as shown in Figs. 15, 16'and 17, for'instance b means ofan india rubber tube 13 (Fig. 17) which is secured to the upper frontedge 'of the front cross-piece 14 and which may be maintained in anysuitable manner upon said cross-piece, said tube coacting in the closingposltion with a suitable metalstrip l15 disposed upon the stationarycross-piece 16 of the vehicle body.

A transverse trough 17 (Fig. 15) empties `into the longitudinal trough 4to provide for the discharge of any water-which may enter through thejoint.

I ma obviously invert the arrangement shown 1n Figs. 16 to 17the tube 13bein mounted on the stationary cross-piece 16 an the strip 15 on themovable cross-piece 14:

At the rear end of the vehicle top, the jomt is assured by the tube18e-preferably of india rubber-which is suitably secured to the edge ofthe rear stationary top 19 (Figs. 13-14) a spacing strip 20 which mayconsist of leather, india rubber `or `like flexible substance, issecured to the rearjof the movable vehicle.

panel, and will take a position below the to tube 18, as shown in Fig.14, when theqmovable to'p anel is brought into the closing position, wereby a tight joint will be assured.

To prevent, withv a still greater certainty, all entrance of-water intothe interior of the vehicle body, I may dispose, preferably adjacent therear-joint, as shown in Fig. 22,

- a covering member 21 consisting of a suitable waterproof substance,whichl discharges into a transverse channel 22 provided with an oitakeconduit 23, any water which may have j entered through the joint.

The lateral water tight joints of the vehicle top are formed at eachside of the vehicle,

a suitable plate 25, optionally elastic, andy in this manner the saidytube 24 is applied upon the movable vehicle top panel 12, thuspreventing all access of water in an effective manner. The arrangementmay also be made fluid tight (Figs.'9 and 11) by a simple band 26 ofindia rubber or the like which is suitab?7 mounted on the correspondingframe 1 an lits upon the top portion 12. In all cases, the joint isformed at the exterior of the grooves 2 coacting with the studs 8, aswill be chieiy observed in Figs. 9 and 10.

The iuid tight conditions ymay also be obtained, as shown in Fig. 18, bya band 27 consisting of india rubber or like material, which 'is securedto the said frame by sewing or Fig. 20, by a band 29 secured to themovable top '12 and engaging in a joint cover 30 secured to the frame 1,and itting upon a second plate31 (or tube) for instance of indiarubbersecured to the inner edge of the channel 4. To increase thefreedom of movement of the vehicle top, I may also, 'as shown in Fig. 21apply the india rubber band 29 upon a portion 32 of the saidchannehwhich'maybe suitv e ably bevelled.

The water collecting inthe channels 4 will be discharged at the frontand rear by spouts,

of suitable form.

The lfront cross-piece ofthe top is connected in any approved manner, tothe lateral frames 1, the frames 1 supporting at their forward ends ashaft 33 and at their rear ends a shaft 34. Any suitable drive means maybe connected between these shafts 33 and 34, suchA as chains 33 (seeFig. 9), in order. to

establish simultaneous rotation of the shafts.'

Certain of the arch members 5 are connected to links of the chains sothat upon rotation of the shafts 33 and 34, the top panel 12'will bemoved longitudinally of the grooves 2. The front shaft 33 is controlledby a device in the formof a Winch which is mounted at the' control mayobviously be effected at the rear l of the vehlcle, and it may belplaced at any suitable height either at the front or rear in order tofacilitate the operation.

The movable vehicle top panel is covered at the rear by the stationarypartition 19, as shown in Figs. 20 and 22, which comprises an a rture 38(Fig. 22) for the free circulation o the air entering the vehicle, whileeliminating all whirling motion of the air. In the open position, themovable top panel rests 0 u on an elastic frame 39 consistln for examp eof india rubber strips by which the top may be held in the open positionwhile reventing all jarring. The said india ru ber device 39 may bereplaced by suitable metal or other springs of Athe spiral, plate orlike type, disposed at the lower part of the rabbet 4@ (Fig. i) adaptedto receive the movablel vehicle to pane At the lower part of said rabbetis isposed an aperture 41 for the discharge of any water which may enterbelow the top part 19, in this manner aiding in the elimination ofwhirling air.

To provide for the proper use of the customary observation a rtureor-window 42, when the movable vehicle top panel is in the openposition, I provide in the said vehicle top the transparent anes 43disposed at suitab e points (Fig. 2 which may consist of glass or ofmica; said panes have a suiiiciently small size to enable them to followthe vehicle top in all its movements. The said panes 43 are secured asshown in Fig. 36 bythe holding of the top art 12 between the part 44-45of a suitable rame, so as to provide a Huid tight joint.

The vehicle body comprises, at a suitable point on its length, a movablewindshield. 46 (Figs. 1 and 30) which has preferably a curved sha einorder to protect the rear seats. The said s ield comprises the studs 47(Figs. 31-32) provided with screws 48 by which the wind shield may beheld at any suitable inclination. The said wind shield may obviously 5consist ofany suitable material such as glass, mica or like transparentsubstances, or even of an opaque substance. y

When the vehicle top is to be directly controlled by hand, I disposeupon the front 50 crpss-piece of the said top, a device for o rating andholding the vehicle top, w ich comprises the lateral fastening bolts 49(Fig. 33) which are outwardly urged by the springs 50. Each bolt isterminated at the interior by a bent portion 51 (Fig. 34) coacting witha disc 52 mounted on the shaft of a knob or like controlling member 53;on the said shaft is mounted a catch 54 engaging in a staple formed inthe stationary front cross-piece of the vehicle body. This dispositionpermits,

by providing suitable apertures in the guiding grooves 2, to .obtain anydesired degree of openin of the vehicle tog), and the said top canautomatically astened in the 06 closed position; the top can also bereleased in 4ous inclinations from any position which itoceupies, byoperating the smgle'member 53.

The vehicle top may be also secured in the lateral direction, as shownin Fig. 35, for instance b an elastic strip 55 of spring steel or the lie which is secured to the end of the curved member5 and coacts with asuitable fastening stud.

The said invention is a plicable to opemng vehicle tops for automolnleand other vehicles, and in general for all suitable purposes, forinstance upon railways, vessels, aircraft and the like.A l

What I claim is:

1. In a vehicle, the combination of a body having a compartment at therear thereof, a window therein, a roof frame, said frame havingguide-ways extending longitudinally of said roof and vertically of saidcompartment,`a flexible roof panel slidable within said guide-ways, awindow in said anel, means to 'move said panel within sai guide-ways toaline said windows, and a flexible strap member secured within saidcompartment to support said panel.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a body having a roof frame,longitudinally of said roof frame and vertically of said bod at the rearthereof, a roof panel slidable wit in said rails and a wind shieldsupported transversely between and above said guide rails andintermediate the length of said longitudinal guide rails.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a body having a roof frame, guiderailsextending longitudinall of said roof frame and vertically of said ydy at the rear thereof, a roof panel slidable within said rails and awind shield supported transversely between and above said guide railsand intermediatethe length of said longitudinal guide rails, said wlndshield being adjustable to assume varitical position. Y

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Paris this 7th daof June 1928.

.EAN Lo s DUBos.

a horizontal to .a verand yextended across guide rails extending 1any

